Becky Watson, 13, died in a car accident that was recorded as a 'prank' that went wrong before it was revealed she was a victim of the gang as well

He told the Mirror: "The authorities just don't seem to get it. Children cannot agree to sex.

"Just because a child is not being physically forced to carry out sexual acts, it doesn't mean they consented.

"Many of these children will have been groomed and manipulated by their abusers and would have been threatened to keep silent.

"How can you say an 11-year-old is capable of consenting to sex with a 40-year-old? This is rape."

When questioned by the newspaper, West Mercia Police Assistant Chief Constable Martin Evans said: "Any incident that is reported to us as child sexual ­exploitation is investigated as such and is taken very seriously, regardless of any consent which may or may not have been given by the victim.”

It comes after West Mercia Police Supt Tom Harding "significantly disputed" claims children were groomed for over 40 years in the town.

He told the BBC: "I am confident that, in the main, we do know the scale of CSE. Therefore, I significantly dispute the 1,000 plus figure and do feel it is sensationalised."